Albé de Swardt
# Albé de Swardt

Albertus Jacobus de Swardt (born (1990-08-10)10 August 1990 in George, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player, whose regular playing position was hooker. He started his career with Western Province in 2011 and, after a short spell in Italy with L'Aquila in 2012, returned to South Africa to play for the Eastern Province Kings between 2013 and 2015.

He retired at the start of 2016, aged 25.

## Rugby career

He played for the SWD Eagles at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week in 2006 and the Under-18 Craven Week in 2008 before joining Western Province. He played for them in the Under-19 and Under-21 Provincial Championship between 2009 and 2011 and made his first class debut in the 2011 Vodacom Cup game against the Falcons. During this time, he also played for Maties in the 2011 and 2012 Varsity Cup competitions.

He then moved to Italian National Championship of Excellence team L'Aquila for a short spell in 2012.

He returned to South Africa in 2013 to join Eastern Province Kings on a two-year deal. He made his debut for the Eastern Province Kings – as well as his Currie Cup debut – in the 37–21 victory over the Griffons on 6 July 2013 in Welkom.

He also played for the NMMU Madibaz team that reached the semi-finals of the Varsity Cup.

In 2014, he was selected on the bench for the Eastern Province Kings side to face Wales during a tour match during a 2014 incoming tour. He came on as a late substitute, played the last eight minutes as the Kings suffered a 12–34 defeat.

A hamstring injury sustained in 2011 caused De Swart several hip and groin issues in later years and he retired at the start of 2016 on medical advice.

### Statistics

    As of 13 January 2016.

| First class career |
| - |
| Season | Teams | Currie Cup Premier | Currie Cup Premier | Currie Cup First | Currie Cup First | Vodacom Cup | Vodacom Cup | Championship of Excellence | Championship of Excellence | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Season | Teams | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| 2011 | Western Province | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | L'Aquila Rugby | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| 2013 | Eastern Province Kings | — | — | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| 2014 | Eastern Province Kings | 5 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | Eastern Province Kings | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Western Province Total | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | L'Aquila Total | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| 2013–2015 | Eastern Province Kings Total | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| 2011–2015 | Career Total | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
